I had several friends who changed the lead-in text to express reluctance to join the fad. (I did this too.) It's as if we all know that these facebook memes (like the chain emails people used to forward to one another) are somewhere on the continuum from seriously uncool to evil incarnate, but we still can't resist. It's an interesting tension. Like Hot-Topic Goth. Look at me! I'm too cool to be a member of the herd.

I'm not filling out the 25 thing because everyone else is doing it, no! I don't follow trends. I'm expressing my individuality and autonomy... it's sheer coincidence I'm walking in the same direction.

Is everybody really feigning? I'd really rather not do it (I love Facebook, but this is a combo of too narcissistic and too much fabricated intimacy for my taste) but I want to somehow acknowledge the people that have tagged me and want to get to know me better. If I wind up doing it, it'll be to avoid feeling rude or indifferent to their request - but I'll still put some effort in to make it represent my view of myself.

So then you have a dilemma - how do you participate in the phenomenon without looking like you are recommending it? I'm choosing not to do it, but my actual preference would be do it and share it with only those who tagged me. Even then I'll look like a too-cool-for-school jackass, even though I'm trying to be appreciative of their expression of friendship.

There is no dilemma if you remember why it is MOST people are doing this. (I will not say all, but I do believe it to be the vast, vast, vast, vast majority of posters).

This is a socially acceptable way of indulging in a perfectly human urge. Namely, to show yourself to be both witty and cool. :) Most posts really could not care more than vaguely if one or all 25 of the people they tagged respond. This is about them.

If YOU want to participate, then do so. Otherwise just let it go softly into that good night. :) Trust me, you should not be offending your friends. And if they are offended over such, then... really. :)

I don't know about that, Spackle. I have a friend who did it but only tagged those friends of his who had already done it themselves. One of his 25 was an explanation - that he hates to impose, and he doesn't want people to feel they have to do it just because he tagged them. But he had a good list, and it was fun to read. He didn't come across whatsoever as "a too-cool-for-school jackass" whatsoever.

And the rest of his list was interesting too.

(No, it wasn't me. I imposed on other people.)